Before being pulled into a vortex, the party spent time at the mansion. Sprocket explored, taking notes on magical artifacts, while Lena focused on Meryl and CJ provided background music for a show.
Before the chaos, there was the mansion. While Serenity briefed Backdrop and Sprocket on the contract, the rest of the party found ways to pass the time.
Sprocket, ever the curious artist, wandered off to explore the mansion's library and magical curiosities, sketching and taking notes, careful not to touch anything.
Lena, meanwhile, was captivated by Meryl, eager to absorb knowledge about magic, sticking close by his side.
CJ, the consummate professional, provided background music for the ongoing comedy show.
The group is abruptly pulled into a spiraling vortex of sorcery and deposited in a frozen forest scene. Meryl stands before a tableau of a giant Owlbear and a fallen druid (Lysandra). Meryl delivers a cryptic message before the scene remains frozen, a timer ticking.
Without warning, the pleasant evening shatters. A vortex of spiraling sorcery rips through reality, pulling the heroes from the mansion's comfort.
They emerge in a strange forest, the air thick with magic, facing a bizarre, frozen tableau.
Before them stands a younger, immaculately dressed Meryl. Behind him, a gargantuan Owlbear is locked in place, poised to strike. On the ground before it lies a red-headed druid, dazed and injured.
Meryl's voice rings out, the only sound in the stillness.
Meryl: Kick your mom's ass.
Then, silence. The scene remains frozen, save for a faint, insistent clicking sound, like a timer counting down. The heroes can move slightly and speak, but are otherwise trapped.
While frozen, the characters react to the strange situation. CJ notes it for his storybook, Sprocket sketches the Owlbear, Lena shows a spark of uncontrolled magic, and Ravena examines the fallen druid.
Trapped in the moment, the heroes process the surreal scene.
CJ: Well, I'm not gonna lie. This one's gonna have to go in my story books. It might rank like fifth weirdest moment of my life.
Sprocket, ever the artist, slowly raises her notebook and begins sketching the frozen Owlbear, muttering to herself.
Lena is lost for words, a tiny spark of uncontrolled fire magic fizzling from her hands in disbelief and shock.
Ravena focuses on the fallen druid, trying to understand what happened and if she can communicate with her.
CJ: Like, we probably should not let the owlbear kill your aunt, mom, whatever the relationship is, right? Like, I feel like that's probably not a great idea.
Ravena: I'm assuming the red head is not my aunt. I feel like I would recognize you... Let me history check.
Ravena's history check confirms it's definitely her aunt, Lysandra, but she never met her. Lysandra died very early in Serenity's life.
Ravena: Yeah, that's definitely her. Maybe there's like a portrait or some family resemblance... Or maybe she looked like my mom? Really? Yeah, you know, I didn't listen.
The scene snaps to life. The gargantuan Owlbear smashes a pine tree, sending it crashing towards the dazed Lysandra. CJ acts first, casting Banishment on the Owlbear, making it disappear temporarily.
Time snaps back into motion with a jolt! The gargantuan Owlbear, no longer frozen, lets out a roar.
It swings a massive paw, splintering a monstrous pine tree in half. The tree topples, falling directly towards the groggy Lysandra on the ground.
Lysandra, dazed and bleeding, is unable to move quickly enough. The tree is about to crush her.
CJ is up first.
CJ: Mmm. Well, I'm gonna... I just realized something awful, and that is... We have no fighting people at all, do we?
Sprocket: Now we're gonna have to get very creative.
CJ: And it makes me really wish I had actually prepared some more spells. But I'm just gonna Banish that owlbear to a different plane.
With a snap of his fingers, the massive beast vanishes, banished from this plane for a short time.
With the Owlbear gone, the falling tree remains the immediate threat. Lena decides to use Fireball on the tree, despite CJ's warnings about the radius and her lack of control.
One problem solved, but the giant, falling tree still hurtles towards Lysandra.
Sprocket: But I didn't finish my drawing yet!
CJ: Hear me out. Maybe we finish your drawing when there's not someone's aunt about to die.
Sprocket mutters and wanders off slightly.
Lena: Is she still about to be crushed by the tree?
Yes, the tree is definitely still falling. Lena is up next.
Lena: Okay. Well... I think she's just gonna explode in fire because that's all she knows, and hoping that it will like, you know, hit that falling tree. So, I think I'm gonna do the fireball.
CJ: Wait, whoa, whoa, whoa! No, no, no, no! You look at how big the fireball area of effect is!
Lena: No, it's letting me choose where the radius is.
CJ: God, have you ever been around a bonfire?
Lena: No, it's gonna be so hot, it's just gonna turn to ash!
CJ: I love how Holly's argument right now hinges on 'my character has no control of her magic,' but 'I can pinpoint accurately say right through the fire!'
Lena: Hey! I'm not gonna blow it all up on the first day!
Lena's eyes flash, and the falling tree is instantly immolated in a massive fireball. The explosion sends flaming splinters towards CJ and the forest, creating a roaring inferno.
Lena's hair crackles with energy, her eyes flash with arcane power.
The falling tree erupts in a colossal fireball, instantly turning to flaming splinters and ash.
A roaring inferno charges outwards, engulfing the surrounding forest and heading directly towards CJ.
This is definitely friendly fire.
CJ: Chances of us actually dying from this? Not great. However, my spell does hinge on my concentration for one minute. So if a fireball happens to touch me and I take the amount of damage...
CJ braces himself as the heat washes over him. He manages to maintain concentration on the banishment spell, but is singed by the blast.
With the tree gone but fire spreading, Ravena and Sprocket must react quickly to save Lysandra. Sprocket decides to run in and grab her, while Ravena uses Enhance Ability to help Sprocket move faster.
The tree is gone, but now flaming splinters rain down and the forest is catching fire. Lysandra is still dazed and vulnerable.
Ravena and Sprocket are up.
Ravena: My initial thought was gonna be Misty stepping over to her and trying to pull her out of the way, but now that there's fire involved, I'm kind of thinking Warding Wind instead.
Sprocket: I... I don't know how you could possibly have a plan at this moment! She is dazed, okay?
Sprocket: I don't have anything fancy, so I think I just gotta run over and try to grab her!
Sprocket decides to brave the flames and rescue Lysandra directly.
Ravena: Is there what I can do to like, enhance Sprocket's ability to go and recover?
Ravena focuses her magic, casting Enhance Ability on Sprocket to boost her speed and strength.
Sprocket: I think I use inertia. Goggles down. Wipe this snot. Run! Just full speed, grab her by the legs and just like, keep going. So, I'm aiming for like, the far side, like riverbank.
Empowered by Ravena, Sprocket successfully races through the danger zone, grabs Lysandra, and pulls her to safety, clearing the range of the explosion and fire.
With a burst of enhanced speed and strength, Sprocket sprints towards Lysandra.
She easily scoops up the injured druid and hauls her away from the immediate danger, clearing the range of the fiery explosion and raining splinters.
CJ, meanwhile, successfully maintains his concentration on the banishment spell despite the heat, taking only minor damage.
With the immediate threat averted, the party gathers. CJ compliments Lena's destructive magic, while Lena busily tries to put out the forest fires. Lysandra begins to regain lucidity, panicked about the Owlbear's whereabouts.
The chaos subsides. The Owlbear is banished, the fiery splinters have landed. The party regroups.
CJ looks at Lena, hair slightly blown back from the blast.
CJ: You're getting really good. We'll work on your aim later, but you're doing great.
Lena, meanwhile, is frantically running around, stamping out the small forest fires she caused.
Lena: I'm so sorry!
Lysandra, now safe, starts pushing herself up, looking around in a panic.
Lysandra: Where is he? Where did he go?
CJ: Oh, first of all, was that Spiro?
Lysandra: What? Who are you? What are you talking about?
CJ: Yeah, 54 seconds, and the owlbear is coming back. I simply relocated him for a minute. And he will be back in 50 seconds.
Lysandra explains the Owlbear (Spiro) is rampaging and must be calmed, not killed, so she can speak to it. She casts a net of thorns to entangle it upon its return, and the party discusses how to subdue it non-lethally.
Sprocket: Well, if you really want to understand, we're gonna have to start back at the beginning, and that started with the babysitting gig.
Lysandra: Please, what? What? You have 50 seconds! This owlbear has been rampaging through the logging settlement. We have to get it settled so that I can speak to it. No kill! If you can't, I kill you! Got it?
CJ: But I mean, I don't think we had any plans to kill it, okay?
Lysandra: Yes, yes, great, marvelous casting. Now we have to reduce its health enough where I can put it to sleep.
CJ: Okay, well, it is going to appear exactly where it was.
Lysandra begins casting a spell, weaving a net of thorns that will appear underneath the Owlbear's feet when it returns.
CJ: Oh, s***, I was gonna do that. I guess I won't cast Entangle then.
Ravena: I have Animal Friendship and I have Charm Monster.
Sprocket: Ravena, you have Charm Monster? Okay.
Ravena: I was also wondering if like, we get it down on its health and like, kind of put it in a spot of weakness and then like, it'll chill out.
Sprocket: Like, 'We're gonna beat you up now, be nice to us'?
The Owlbear returns, is immediately entangled by thorns, and grappled by CJ's Bigsby's Hand. Attempts to charm or cause hideous laughter fail, but the group manages to restrain the massive beast.
Moments of preparation pass quickly. Suddenly, the Owlbear reappears, angry and disoriented.
It lands directly in Lysandra's thorny trap, its legs instantly ensnared.
Before it can react, CJ's Bigsby's Hand spell manifests, a giant spectral hand gripping the immense creature, adding to its restraint.
Attempts to charm it or make it laugh hysterically fail. This beast is too strong-willed.
But between Lysandra's thorns and CJ's spectral hand, the gargantuan Owlbear is locked in place, struggling furiously.
CJ: I'm not taking any bonus action to like, hurt it. So I'm just... I'm just grappling.
The grapples stack. The Owlbear, despite its immense strength, cannot break free.
While the Owlbear is restrained, Lena approaches it, attempting to use the Command spell to calm it. The spell fails, but her performance causes the Owlbear to pause for a moment.
The Owlbear is held fast, roaring in frustration. Lena, seeing her chance, approaches.
Lena: I think there's no fire coming out of her... But I think she would maybe try this Command spell. She just like, start walking up to it, like trying to calm it.
CJ: If you just tell it to calm down, it's female, it's definitely gonna get worse.
Lena: I think she's walking up like thinking it's kind of cute. She's like, 'It's okay, it's okay. It's gonna be okay.'
Lena attempts the Command spell, focusing on the word 'Calm', pouring all her earnest, if naive, energy into it. She performs admirably.
Lena: Oh, what even are you? Are you a bear? Are you an owl? Oh, it's okay.
The Owlbear resists the magical command, but Lena's performance gives it a momentary pause.
Lena: He knows I'm not an owlbear, rude.
Other attempts to calm the Owlbear with magic fail. Sprocket uses Perception to understand the Owlbear's state, realizing it's panicked, not just enraged. She decides to try music with her pan flute.
Magical attempts to soothe the beast continue to fail. It remains trapped but frantic.
CJ: Why is this owlbear so wise?
CJ: Really need y'all to do something. I don't know how much longer I can hold this.
Sprocket: Sprocket, can you see anything on it that's pissing it off?
Sprocket focuses, observing the Owlbear closely. She realizes there's no obvious physical trigger for its behavior. It keeps looking past them, its eyes wide and pupils dilated.
It's not rage she sees, but panic. Full fight or flight mode.
Sprocket: Can I just try to like, approach it slightly and just... like, just look at it in its eyes?
Sprocket: Alright, I've got it. I have a pan flute, I'm pretty good at it. So, I'm gonna take out my pan flute. Try to play a little ditty to calm it.
Ravena: Can I spend two sorcery points to give one target disadvantage? So you want to spend two of them to make them re-roll a wisdom roll?
Ravena uses her magic to hinder the Owlbear's resistance, giving Sprocket a better chance.
Sprocket plays her pan flute, but the Owlbear resists the calming music. Frustrated, the Owlbear attacks Sprocket with mud and splinters, injuring her.
Sprocket raises her pan flute and begins to play a soothing melody, hoping to cut through the beast's panic.
Despite Ravena's aid and Sprocket's skill, the music fails to calm the Owlbear. Its eyes remain red, pupils dilated, locked in fight or flight.
Enraged by the attempts to soothe it, the Owlbear lashes out at the closest target: Sprocket.
It scoops up mud, dirt, and splinters with its massive paw and flings it at the goblin.
Sprocket: Oh, you goggles! I pulled the goggles down! Throwing mud at me? Very, very rude!
Sprocket is struck by the debris, taking damage.
The Owlbear attempts another attack, but Sprocket manages to dodge out of the way of the second strike.
CJ: Like, I have a hand as big as it is and it's inside of the hand.
CJ struggles to maintain his hold against the Owlbear's immense strength, aided only by Lysandra's thorns.
The group attempts a coordinated effort: Lena uses Message and Persuasion, Ravena aids with Charm/Message, and Sprocket uses Prestidigitation and music. This combined approach finally breaks through the Owlbear's panic.
Single attempts aren't working. The party realizes they need to combine their efforts.
Lena: I wonder like, if Lena is trying to communicate and she does the Message spell, while like Ravena's spell for charming it helps it receive that message better, and then Sophie, playing some really relaxing music on your flute? We're coming with good energy and just clear message and setting like a calm environment. Does that work?
Sprocket: Yeah, I can Prestidigitation, like a... like a big, like firework.
The plan is set: a multi-sensory approach to break through the panic. Lena attempts to communicate with the Owlbear using Message and Persuasion, Ravena subtly enhances the connection, and Sprocket creates a sudden, attention-grabbing sound with Prestidigitation before resuming her calming music.
The combined assault of sound, magic, and earnest communication finally reaches the frantic beast.
With a loud pop and a flash, the Owlbear's eyes clear. It realizes the heroes aren't the threat.
The Owlbear calms down. Lysandra releases her Entangle spell, and CJ releases Bigsby's Hand. Lysandra then communicates with the Owlbear using animal sounds. Ravena uses Detect Thoughts to understand their conversation.
The frantic energy drains from the Owlbear. It stands still, its eyes now clear and focused.
Almost immediately, Lysandra drops her concentration, the thorny vines receding into the ground.
Lysandra: Get!
CJ: I let go, and then the hand just disappears.
CJ releases his spectral grip. The Owlbear is free, but calm.
Lysandra casts a spell on herself and begins making chirping and growling noises. The Owlbear's head whips towards her, and they begin to communicate in animal sounds.
Lena: Immediately, Lena is like, 'Oh, that's what I was supposed to be doing!'
CJ: He looked at Lena, 'You... You should ask her about that later.'
Ravena: Then I have a way to read minds, basically. And I want to read her mind while she's communicating with it. Yes, Detect Thoughts.
Ravena focuses, delving into Lysandra's thoughts as she 'speaks' with the Owlbear. She receives a jumble of images and phrases: 'group,' 'people,' 'music,' 'smell,' 'magic,' 'wood boxes,' 'They have him,' 'They must pay,' 'all must pay.'
From Lysandra's side, she hears questions: 'who,' 'where,' 'how.'
The main takeaway is clear: the Owlbear is looking for something, someone small. Her cub was taken.
Lysandra puts the Owlbear to sleep. She turns to the group, asking who they are and why they are here, showing suspicion. The group explains they are performers, and Lysandra reveals the cub (Spiro) was taken by magic and music users, asking for their help.
Lysandra leans her head against the Owlbear's. Its eyes grow heavy, and it topples over, fast asleep.
Lysandra turns to the group, exhausted, but her gaze sharpens with suspicion.
Lysandra: Thank you, I think, for your help. Why are you here?
Ravena: Aunt Lysandra? Uncle Meryl put on his pants and now we're here. That description makes no sense to me. I wouldn't know.
Sprocket: Well, I tried to tell you earlier that we were doing this show, and that we are babysitting.
Lysandra: Performers? She cuts right in. Just... she walked... did you? You took him? The cub?
CJ: What? No, we're not. Why would we take a cub?
Lysandra: That is... that is what Orca had said, that a group... Orca...
CJ: Do we look like circus performers? We're way above that.
CJ attempts to persuade her. It works. All Lysandra knew was that her cub was taken.
Lysandra: Yes, it... I cannot leave her, but we must find this cub.
CJ: Lady, do you need help? Then just ask.
Lysandra: I do need help.
CJ: Alright, cool. You guys want to help her?
Sprocket: Yeah, obviously we're gonna help her. We're here, right?
The party agrees to help find the cub, Spiro, who was taken by magic and music users towards Oak Haven. CJ and Ravena provide healing for Lysandra while Sprocket finishes her sketch and Lena creates a bonfire for warmth.
Lysandra: It's name is Spiro. Find him. Wooden boxes. It was going towards wooden boxes. I think this must mean the city of Oak Haven.
Lysandra points down the road towards the logging settlement. She must remain here to keep Spiro's mother asleep.
CJ: Alright, cool. You guys want to help her?
Sprocket: Yeah, obviously we're gonna help her. We're here, right?
CJ: I imagine it's exhausting as the sleep spell itself. But no, none of us can do that. So I guess we'll go find a cub. And you can just chill here, question mark?
Before setting off, CJ and Ravena tend to Lysandra's wounds.
CJ: Alright, because my Prayer of Healing gives us the ability to heal and it gives us the benefit of a short rest. So if you spend your sorcery points, you will regain them with my Prayer of Healing. So if you want to do yours first.
Ravena: Yeah, I'm just thinking if I cast this spell and then replenish my spell slots using my sorcery points... Yeah. Then I will cast a... Honestly, first level Cure Wounds, I think.
Ravena and CJ heal Lysandra, giving her strength.
As they tend to Lysandra, Sprocket finishes her sketch of the now-peaceful Owlbear.
It is getting dark. Lena creates a small, controlled bonfire nearby for warmth.
The party begins their journey towards Oak Haven along a logging trail. Lysandra gives them parting instructions, mentioning the culprits smelled like magic and music, leading the party to suspect a rival performance group.
With Lysandra resting and the Owlbear asleep, the party sets off along the logging trail towards Oak Haven.
As they walk away, Lysandra's voice calls out one last instruction.
Lysandra: In a few hours, I think I will recover enough to join you, but you have to at least figure out where they're keeping him. A group who smelled like magic and music took her cub.
Sprocket: Magic and music... rival crew!
CJ: That sounds like us.
The implication hangs in the air – perhaps this explains Lysandra's initial suspicion.
As they walk, Lena practices making Owlbear sounds, determined to speak to the cub when they find it.
As they approach Oak Haven, the sounds of the logging mill fill the air. They see the lights of the small settlement, dominated by a large building on the river. Ravena casts Unseen Servant to search for the cub in boxes near the docks.
The forest thickens, then begins to show signs of logging. Even late at night, the rhythmic screech of the mill echoes through the trees.
Lights twinkle in the distance, revealing a small settlement. One building, the sawmill, rises above the rest, perched on the river where a watermill turns.
The party approaches the town, deciding on their plan.
Ravena: It's like a dock area? There is a dock area? Yeah, I want to kind of meander through it but also cast Unseen Servant and have them listen to see if they can hear the baby owlbear in any of the boxes because I overheard the box thing.
Ravena casts her spell, creating an invisible, obedient servant. She instructs it to search near the docks, specifically listening for animal noises coming from boxes.
A few steps later, the Unseen Servant starts banging. They turn to see it pointing at a chicken coop.
CJ: Not quite specific enough.
Lena attempts to provide a more specific sound for the servant.
Lena: Whoo do you? Whoo growl? Whoo growl?